London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) closed early Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, and it could be some time before it re-opens to passengers.
05.03.2025 - 12:45 / euronews.com / Rosie Frost
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has officially expanded to European travellers.
Starting 2 April 2025, all European visitors will need ETA approval – or, for some non-EU nationals, a visa - to enter the UK.
The system became mandatory for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, following its rollout last November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Applications for European travellers open today.
Read on for details on cost, validity and how to get it.
The ETA replaces the single-use Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme, offering a lower cost option with multi-entry validity.
The UK government notes that it is not a visa and does not permit entry into the UK. Rather, it authorises a person to travel to the UK.
The ETA is now required for all eligible nationalities. You can find the full list of countries here.
Most visitors will be able to apply using a mobile app and can expect a decision emailed within three days.
Everyone travelling needs to apply, including babies and children, but you can apply for other people.
The UK government says its app is the quickest and easiest way to apply for an ETA. You can download the ETA app from the UK government website.
If you cannot download the app, you can also apply online here.
To complete the application, make sure you have on hand the passport you'll be travelling on, an email address and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You will have to answer a set of suitability questions. You don't need to enter your travel details.
You can delete the app when you’ve finished applying. Your ETA will be linked to your passport digitally, and you will not need to show anything else when you enter the UK.
The government says: "You must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK. You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision."
Considering most applicants will get a decision within three days, it can be assumed you should apply at least three ahead of travelling to the UK, though you can do it much further in advance.
Like the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) in the US, a fee is attached to the application process. The ETA costs £10, approximately €12 at the time of writing.
According to the British Home Office website, however, the UK “[intends] to increase the cost of an ETA to £16 (€129) in the future.”
An ETA lasts for two years. You do not need to apply again during this time.
You can travel to the UK as many times as you want during the period of validity, but you cannot stay for longer than six months on one trip. Check the UK government website for more details on what you can and cannot do on an ETA.
Note that you will need to apply for a new ETA if
London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) closed early Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, and it could be some time before it re-opens to passengers.
I stepped off a train in Vienna three decades ago and have been finding my way back to it ever since. Some cities seem to encapsulate a feeling, a mood; Vienna has inspired countless artists, not least Billy Joel, who in the 1970s named a song after the city. “Slow down, you're doing fine,” goes the refrain. “You can afford to lose a day or two….” Vienna makes it easy to do those things. In the beloved indie romance Before Sunrise, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meet on a train, then alight in Vienna, where they shoot the breeze and meander the streets until dawn. Rarely crowded, the city offers space to think, the potential for chance encounters. And while some European cities clear out in summer, leaving the door open for visitors to shut behind them, Vienna is always itself.
Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter is emphatic about the state of the transatlantic travel market: Business is good and continues to grow.
Herschend, the privately-owned force behind Dollywood, has acquired more than 20 regional U.S. attractions, the company shared in a press release with Travel + Leisure.
From Egyptian jewellery to 15th century armour to medieval illuminated manuscripts, old masters and exceptional contemporary design - Tefaf, Europe's principal fine arts fair, really has something for everyone.
The sun had begun its leisurely descent over Bodrum Town on a September afternoon when I started going back over my list, making sure I hadn’t missed anything. A stroll along the marina, pausing to take a video of a forest of Turkish flags fluttering in the wind: check. Bites of kabak cicegi dolmasi and enginar kalbi on the terrace of a restaurant overlooking gulets bobbing in the harbor below: delicious. Browsing leather shoes and handwoven towels in the labyrinthine bazaar: my credit card statement would attest to that. Satisfied, I started mapping out the route back to the hotel, working in a stop at a posh Turkish delight shop a friend in New York had recommended. I turned to my mom, ready to lead her out of the bazaar, when I noticed her hesitate.
A swarm of mild earthquakes that saw thousands of residents and visitors leave Santorini, Greece, on flights and ferries appears to have petered off, according to experts.
It's a season of savings for travelers looking to explore international destinations. Delta Air Lines recently published hundreds of discounted flights in its Premium Cabin Deals section, which includes offers both in its SkyMiles frequent flyer program redemptions, as well as for traditional cash payment. Best of all, the travel period extends from April through May 2025, making it perfect for travelers seeking a last-minute spring break or early summer vacation. For travelers looking to experience the new Delta One Lounge and first-class experience from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the airline has fares from 230,000 miles + $376 to London (LHR) for travel between April 25, 2025 and May 1, 2025. From New York's John F.
Once the "best-kept secret” from travellers worldwide, Saudi Arabia is now a must-visit destination for Europeans.
Back in my teenage years, my sweet grandmother gifted me her dear friend Laura’s jewelry case—embroidered in bright, baby pink with Laura’s written across it—a truly from-the-heart gift. While I still occasionally use it, when I do, it is purely out of sentimentality. Given its simple, vintage design of only two large zipper compartments, there’s a serious lack of structure and organization. The truth is, the pouch is far from the sleek designs available today: like most travel accessories, travel jewelry cases and pouches have come a long way since dear Laura’s—and have evolved into stylish and conveniently compartmentalized keepers to pack our most cherished pieces.
You can listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify each week. Follow this link if you're listening on Apple News.
When people think of St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States, places like New York City, Boston, or Chicago usually come to mind. And while New York City has the largest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country (it was established in 1762), the second largest belongs to a city much smaller in size: Savannah.